Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LOAD-STRAPPING DEVICE
Field of Invention
The invention concerns a load-strapping device of the kind used for securing
load to a
vehicle, particularly trailers and lorries. The device is provided for joining
and tension-
ing straps holding the load onto a platform or other load-carrying base.
Background of the Invention
Prior art load-strapping devices are provided with a spindle extending between
flanges
of mutually pivoting frame parts of the device. A free end of a strap is
passed through a
slot in the spindle, and by a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism provided at the
joint, the
spindle is rotated in one direction, thus winding the strap around itself when
the frame
parts are repeatedly pivoted in opposite directions. Releasing the strap
occurs by re-
leasing the ratchet wheel by pulling two arresting pawls, one in each frame
parts,
against spring bias, allowing the spindle to rotate backwards and unwind the
strap.
After that, the free end of the strap can be pulled out from the slot. This
prior art en-
tails some tedious work with handling the sometimes long, free end of the
strap and
pulling it through the slot before tightening, and the reverse action of
unwinding the
strap end and finally pulling it out again. For a large load needing a
plurality of straps,
these actions have to be repeated many times.
US 2008/0244883 Al discloses a strapping device where the spindle itself is a
two-part
design. A first part of the spindle can be moved relatively to a second part
of the spin-
dle in order to engage and/or release a strap between the parts of the
spindle. The
movement between the spindle parts for engaging and releasing the strap is
lateral such
that one spindle part is slid in parallel with the other part of the spindle,
thus exposing a
space where the strap is to be located. Thereby it is possible to place the
strap in the
exposed space without having to use and pull the end of the strap through a
slot in the
spindle. The slot is established after positioning the strap by sliding the
other part of the
spindle back into operating or closed position. Releasing the strap after
unwinding is
provided by reversing the movement of the movable part of the spindle. A
similar de-
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sign is disclosed in WO 2007/113373 and W02012/095551.
WO 2006/001714 discloses a strapping device with a bifurcated spindle. In one
embod-
iment, the spindle is provided with two parallel arms joined by a bend. In the
mounted
condition, the parallel arms form a slot in the spindle. The spindle can be
inserted and
pulled out laterally in the joint between the movable parts. In this way, the
strap can be
fitted and removed without taking the free end of the strap and pull it
through the slot.
Releasing can be done by drawing the spindle laterally, thus allowing the
windings of
the strap to slide off the spindle.
The prior art presented in the cited documents all entail manipulation of a
part of the
spindle for engaging and disengaging the strap. In outdoor conditions
operation may be
impeded when using gloves for protection, slippery surfaces due to rain or
ice, and dirt
on the strap, especially when disengaging and releasing the strap from the
strapping
device.
Explanation of the Invention
In a preferred embodiment the invention provides a load-strapping device
including at
least two frame parts connected by a pivotable joint, where one frame part is
attached
to a strap, where the joint between the pivotable parts is provided with a
spindle ex-
tending between parallel flanges of the frame parts, the pivotable joint
between the
pivotable parts provided at opposite ends of the spindle with a pawl-and-
ratchet mech-
anism which provides one-way rotation of the spindle when the pivotable basic
parts
are pivoted repeatedly in opposing directions, wherein the spindle is provided
with at
least one recess cut into the body of the spindle, where said at least one
recess is
adapted to receive a strap.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the spindle is provided
with
two recesses arranged at respective different oblique angles relative to the
rotation axis
of the spindle and that the recesses are mutually spaced, and in opposite
orientations.
In these embodiments there are no moving parts needed in order to retain the
strap in
fixed relationship to the spindle. In this connection fixed relationship shall
be under-
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stood such that as the spindle is rotated, the strap will not be able to lead
the spindle,
but will be wound around the spindle. The very simple feature providing
recesses in the
spindle into which a strap is supposed to be inserted creates a simple and
maintenance
free and extremely reliable fixture which is easy to use and which does not
require any
special tools or handling in operation. Naturally the strap must be
sufficiently pliable in
order to be able to insert the strap into the recesses, but for relatively
stiff straps which
are also wide, the spindle will be longer thereby making it possible to have a
greater
distance between the recesses such that the strap as such does not need to be
bent or
deformed very must in order to be inserted into the recesses.
In a still further advantageous embodiment of the invention the recesses are
cut-outs
arranged symmetrically at a predefined distance about the centre of the
spindle, where
the opening of the recesses are closer to the centre than the bottoms of the
recesses.
Cut-outs may easily be provided by appropriate machinery and by maintaining a
prede-
termined distance and having cut-outs with dimensions, for example 150% of the
thickness of the strap for which the recesses are intended to receive,
placement of the
straps in the recesses becomes very easy as well as manufacturing of the
spindle be-
comes relatively cheap.
Naturally the spindle may be manufactured in oversize in order to accommodate
the
recesses, but typically the material characteristics of the steel from which
the spindles
are manufactured are sufficient, such that the recesses will not weaken the
construction
to such a point that the spindle becomes the weak point in the construction.
The recesses are arranged such that they flare away from each other, i.e. such
that the
openings of the recesses are closer to each other than the bottoms of the
recesses
whereby by bending a strap the two side edges of the strap will be able to be
fitted in-
side the recesses in the spindle. The mutual distance between the recesses and
particu-
larly the openings of the recesses will be provided according to the width and
applica-
bility of the strap for which the load strapping device is designed.
In a still further advantageous embodiment of the invention recesses are
connected to
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an enlarged cut-out section, said enlarged cut-out section spanning the
diameter of the spindle, and
has an extend in the spindles longitudinal direction along the rotation axis,
at least intersecting
both recesses.
The enlarge cut-out section is designed to accommodate the strap, such that
the recesses will allow
the strap into the enlarged cut-out section. Once the strap is in the enlarged
cut-out section, the
strap's side edges will spread out in the enlarged cut-out section, avoiding
the strap being bent.
Thereby when winding the strap up on the spindle, the strap will be smoother,
allowing for easier
winding/unwinding, and at the same time allow more windings as these are
completely flat.
A guide element may be provided on or as part of the spindle, where the guide
element is adapted
to guide the strap inserted through the recess. Hereby a secure winding of the
strap is ensured.
Some embodiments disclosed herein provide a load-strapping device including at
least two frame
parts connected by a pivotable joint, where one frame part is attached to a
strap, where the joint
between the at least two frame parts is provided with a spindle extending
between parallel flanges
of the frame parts, the pivotable joint between the at least two frame parts
provided at opposite
ends of the spindle with a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism which provides one-way
rotation of the
spindle when the pivotable basic parts are pivoted repeatedly in opposing
directions, wherein the
spindle is provided with at least one recess cut into a body of the spindle,
where said at least one
recess is adapted to receive the strap and wherein the recesses extend less
than half of a diameter
of the spindle into the spindle.
The invention is also directed to a method of using a device according to the
invention comprising
the following method, wherein a device having a spindle corresponding in width
to the strap which
is to be strapped is selected, and where the strap is arranged flatly over the
spindle, after which the
side edges of the strap is inserted in respective recesses provided in the
spindle, after which the
ratchet mechanism is activated in order to wind the strap around the spindle,
thereby tightening
the strap.
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-05-11
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The Drawing
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the
drawing, in
which:
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a prior art embodiment of a load
strapping
device;
Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention without a strap mounted
in the spindle;
Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the invention with a strap mounted in
the spindle;
Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of the invention;
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-05-11
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Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 6 shows the embodiment of fig. 5 with a strap mounted in
the spindle;
and
Fig. 7A,B show an example where a guide element has been provided
for guid-
5 ing the strap.
Description of Example Embodiments
The strapping device according to the invention comprises several parts in
common
with prior art devices for tightening and securing straps or belts on loads to
be trans-
ported or be held film together or to a base.
The invention shown in the drawings include two mutually pivoting frame parts
1, 2
that are hingedly connected at a spindle generally designated by the number 3.
One
frame part 1 is provided with a handle 4 for use in the tightening operation,
and the
other frame part 2 is provided with a bolt 5 or rod member for securing the
end of a
not shown strap.
The spindle 3 extends between and through opposing and parallel flanges 7 and
8 of
the frame parts 1 and 2, respectively. Similar to the prior art, the device
according to
the invention is provided with a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism for providing a
one-way
rotation of the spindle 3 when the parts 1 and 2 are pivoted in opposite
directions. The
main features of this mechanism is a pair of ratchet wheels 9 which are fixed
to the
spindle 3 between the flanges 7, 8, but rotatably seated in relation to the
parts 1 and 2,
and two spring-biased pawls 10, 11 provided in respective frame parts 1, 2.
The sliding
pawls 10, 11 can be released from engagement with the ratchet wheels 9 by
manually
pulling the pawls 10, 11 back against the action of not shown springs.
In figure 2 is illustrated an embodiment of the spindle 3 according to the
invention. The
spindle is provided with two recesses 20, 21 arranged at different oblique
angles rela-
tive to the axis of rotation illustrated by the dashed line 22. The recesses
20, 21 are
mutually spaced in this embodiment such that the upper part of the recesses
illustrated
by reference number 23 intersect and thereby make it relatively easy to insert
the strap.
In this embodiment the recesses 20, 21 are created by cut-outs in the spindle
3. The
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ends of the spindle are completely comparable to the prior art devices and as
such are
able to accommodate the frames and flanges 7, 8 as well as the pair of ratchet
wheels 9.
Turning to figure 3 a strap 30 has been folded into the recesses 20, 21 such
that by
rotating the spindle 3 the upper part of the spindles 21', 20' will hold the
strap 30 in
place in the spindle such that by rotation the strap will be wound around the
spindle 3.
In fig. 4 is illustrated a further embodiment of the invention. The spindle 3
is provided
with an enlarged cut-out section 25. The enlarged cut-out section 25 span the
diameter
of the spindle, i.e. there is a slit going through the spindle 3. The extent
of the enlarged
cut-out section 25 in the spindle's 3 longitudinal direction (along the
rotation axis 22),
at least intersects both recesses. Due to the nature of the construction when
cut-
ting/forming the recesses, a central piece will be cut loose, such that the
recesses will
only have one side. The upper parts of the recesses 20', 21' will still retain
the strap as
explained above with reference to fig. 3.
In fig. 5 and 6 is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. The
mechanism
activating and causing the rotation of the spindle 3 is the same as for all
the embodi-
ments described above. In this embodiment the spindle 3 is provided with a
long recess
20 which spans almost the entire distance between the parallel flanges 8.
Adjacent one
flange 8 is provided a cut-out 26, being an integral part of the recess 20.
The cut-out
allows for a strap 30 ¨ see fig 6, to be inserted by its side edge in the cut-
out 26, and
slid into the recess 20, such that when the spindle 3 is rotated the upper
portion 20' of
the spindle will retain the strap 30, causing the strap 30 to be wound around
the spindle
3.
In fig. 7A and 7B a further embodiment is shown where a guide element is
provided on
or as part of the spindle, the guide element being adapted to guide the strap
inserted
through the recess. A further guide element may be provided at a distance from
the
first guide element.
